The Department of Public Works and Highways is introducing a new system in project monitoring that will help institute reforms in the agency particularly on its fight increase transparency and eliminate graft and corruption.
DPWH Secretary Mark Villar said the new monitoring system will have a built-in geo-tagging feature and its implementation within the department is in line with the mandate of President Duterte to end graft and corruption to increase competence and effectiveness in rendering services to the people.
“We have rolled out the use of the Project and Contract Management Procedures and Application (PCMA),” Secretary Villar said.
He added that the new feature will enable the adding of geographic identification data to photos, videos, and other posts which allows other content from the same geographic location to be found.
PCMA will be fully implemented in the DPWH next year, he pointed out.
“By 2017, with the full implementation of the PCMA – we expect to detect any ghost project real-time, as they are posted in the system,” the secretary said.
The new system will also serve as a tool for inspection and reflect the accomplishments of DPWH projects real-time.
“The right to information does not end in the provision of data. There is a need to ensure that the public has access to quality information,” he said, adding that the use of geo-tagging will provide a more accurate measurement of project accomplishments and at the same time determine whether certain infrastructures have been duplicated or if there are any instances of infrastructure overlap in the country.
PCMA is also expected to improve transparency and accountability of physical and financial outcomes through use of online geographic based status reporting and geo-tagged photos required for Contractor Claims processing.
“This administration is committed to the optimum use of people’s money. Safeguards will be put in place to ensure complete elimination of ghost projects,” Villar said.
